The Hills Market Downtown Celebrates First Year with Store Updates

When The Hills Market opened a Downtown branch last March, it was met with enthusiasm and gratefulness from a community desperate for more dining and shopping options. Since then, The Hills Market has become so much more than a grocery; it’s now the spot in the Discovery District to eat, meet, and be seen.

The first major change customers will notice upon entering the market is that the lane assignments have changed. The produce section remains intact, but now, spices, for instance, are no longer in the second aisle of the south-north lanes; they’re now in the second aisle of the east-west lanes in the store.

And that’s not the only change. After considering the shoppers’ experience, the decision was made to rearrange the shelves according to ease. The items most frequently purchased, like pasta and canned goods, are now front and center, and a larger grab-n-go section has been added.

“This past year, we have really focused on what are our customers wants and needs at the downtown location,” shares Kelly Holmes, Marketing Director at The Hills Market Downtown. “We are making changes to better our customer experience.”

The Hills Market is also something of an eatery, where diners can come in for hot or cold breakfasts and lunches. Taco Tuesdays and Taste of Asia Thursdays every week at the salad bar is something visitors look forward to, and just one of several lunch conveniences The Hills offers.

The Deli Guys are regulars on the lunch scene, serving fresh, tasty sandwiches, like the Grant Street Club, at reasonable cost. The Pizza Masters are also usually on hand, serving Gluten-free Veggie Pizzas, among other popular choices.

And now that the weather is finally turning warm, there’s no reason not to enjoy an evening on The Hills Market’s patio, which, in May, will be a hot seat for great nights of entertainment.

On Mondays from 5pm – 8pm, guest bartenders will be featured for Charity Happy Hours. Food and drink specials will be offered where a portion of the proceeds benefits the bartender’s choice of charity. On Wednesdays, Grill & Chill from 5pm – 8pm with fired-to-order Hills Burgers and Brats and cold brews.

New this season at The Hills Market – Sushi Night & Beer Flights every Thursday during happy hour. Beginning at the end of April, diners will be able to pair hand-rolled sushi with flights of craft beer, a winning combination with sunshine.

Also coming soon will be a Johnson’s Scoop Station located in the bakery in the Market. In the very near future, shoppers will be able to enjoy a scoop or two of Johnson’s Real Ice-Cream, which has been around since 1950, while they shop or as a sweet treat after lunch.

And, of course, Crèpes a la Carte still serves brunch every Sunday from 9am – 2pm, so if you haven’t been back to The Hills Market Downtown in a while, there’re now more reasons than ever to schedule a trip. Did I mention they’ve also expanded their beer department?

The Hills Market Downtown is located at 95 North Grant Avenue. Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7am -9pm, and Saturday-Sunday, 8am – 8 pm.

A special first anniversary celebration is planned at the Hills Downtown on April 18th and 19th. Free giveaways and samples will be offered throughout both days, and several new products will be launching.

When people come in from out of town I take them to 2 specific downtown spots ……. Milestone 229 and here. Both places blow people away.

http://www.handcrafteddelights.com Anne Evans

Little more info on Scoop Shop and Coffee Bar via a release:
“The Hills Market Downtown is adding a new Scoop Shop and Coffee Bar to its Café and Bakery. The Scoop Shop will serve up flavors of Johnson’s Real Ice Cream, while the Coffee Bar will brew hot and cold beverages from Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea. Beginning on the store’s April 18 anniversary, the new shops will be open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 95 N Grant Avenue in Columbus.

At the Scoop Shop, downtown customers can enjoy cones and cups of locally made Johnson’s Real Ice Cream. In addition to traditional favorites such as chocolate and vanilla, the shop will feature Johnson’s Columbus Collection flavors made with ingredients from Columbus companies such as Crimson Cup, Just Pies and Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties. The collection’s coffee-flavored Signature Mocha melds Crimson Cup’s Armando’s Blend coffee with white chocolate curls and caramel. Customers can enjoy ice cream in cups, sugar cones and chocolate-dipped waffle cones.

The Coffee Bar will brew six varieties of locally roasted Crimson Cup coffee each day, including The Hills House Blend, a smooth, slightly sweet signature blend. Eight premium loose-leaf teas from Crimson Cup will also be available. In the warmer months, customers can cool off with iced Hills House Blend and organic green and black iced teas.”

http://www.MadisonandFifth.com TheRocket

Where does Crepes a la Cart set-up on weekends? Is there outdoor seating so that we can drop by during weekend morning dog walks?

http://www.columbusunderground.com Walker Evans

I think they normally set up in the little kitchen nook area thing in the indoor seating area on the east side of the building (closest to Grant). And yes, there’s a door right next to that which goes out onto their patio. ;) Enjoy!

http://www.MadisonandFifth.com TheRocket

Thanks, Walker! Also pretty excited about the Johnson’s plans. The coffee ice cream is the very, very best ever. Found out it’s the ice cream Lindey’s uses in their ‘Post Mortem’ chocolate brownie cake dessert. Some serious creamy, coffee goodness.

BTW – good job on the redesign! :)

Posole

Oh, I like Johnson’s Ice Cream. I saw it showed up at Weiland’s, too They must have done a marketing push to local businesses – now I like them even better!